Top Five Under $20.00

Enough of this bourgeois snobbery. I think most, if not all would agree that Old Rip Van Winkle, Brooker's, Blanton's and their ilk are fine Bourbons. Accounting for taste, I have had few poorly made whiskeys of upwards of $50.00/bottle. Let's hear some real debate on value whiskey.

1. Wild Turkey 101.
2. Evan Williams, 7 y.o.
3. Four Roses (Perhaps the best whiskey out there for the price. Too bad it's only available in KY & IN.)
4. Jim Beam Black, 7 y.o. (Sadly, I never did get to try the eight y.o. I have heard from various folks that it was a great bang for the buck.)
5. Ancient Ancient Age, 10 y.o.

Re: Top Five Under $20.00

It's hard to argue with your choices, although I personally can do without Four Roses (isn't taste wonderful; 4-R is about at the bottom of my list). Jim Beam black doesn't thrill me all that much either. By the way, the 8-year-old IS available, but you have to find a duty-free store that sells it. I believe the one at Rainbow Bridge (Buffalo, NY to Fort Erie, Ontario) has it. Also, since you indicated that you wanted to get away from the heavy-hitters, I didn't include it, but Old Rip Van Winkle 10-year-old (and its alter-ego, Old Commonwealth) qualifies well within your price bracket.

Okay, mine (and these are arbitrary, since there are many others that could appear here -- so many good bourbons; only five slots)

Re: Top Five Under $20.00

Hello. I have not tried many Bourbons under $20 but for thoses I have tried here my list.
1. 1990 Evan Williams I can get it here in Florida for $19.95
2. Elijah Craig 12yr Old
3. Old Grand Dad 100 prood
4. Wild Turkey 101 proof
5. Buffalo Trace

Re: Top Five Under $20.00

(In my opinion, for what little it's worth, I don't believe that the various Old Charter bottlings get enough respect on this list. I find the 8, 10, & 12 year bottlings all superior to the the basic Beam bottlings and they sell for about the same price.)

Re: Top Five Under $20.00

Bill,

My list would be pretty close to yours, though I would want to get Old Fitz BIB in there somewhere. Also, I agree with you about Old Charter. I wish it were easier to find. I would regularly buy the 12 year old if I could find it.

Re: Top Five Under $20.00

Prices are so high in Alabama it would be difficult for me to name a top-5 under $20.

It is interesting to me that I pay about the same as you for Elijah Craig 12-yo (I think it is either $15.99 or 16.99), but Knob Creek costs $32, here.

I could put some very good whiskeys on my list if I were talking about 375 ml bottles : ) But, that wouldn't be fair.

The only two I know of for my list would be Old Forester 100 proof and Elijah Craig 12-yo. I haven't yet tried the recommended Ancient Ancient Age 10 yo, although I used to drink it sometimes about 30 years ago.

I live within 5 miles of the Kansas/Missouri state line, there's some interstate competition between the distributors, different prices on either side of the line even within the same retail chains. I take advantage of sale prices on either side of the state line and stockpile good buys when I see em. For instance, I grabbed 1.75 jugs of 10 year Old Charter for $22 this week. Hard to beat at that price.